Low Cost Home Makeovers - 11 handy tips. Number 10. Identify Trends.

I was recently invited to Grand Designs Live in Birmingham, to talk about home makeovers and how to keep costs down, whether you're selling your home or want to enjoy living in it. To follow is a summary of the suggestions I made, with lots of 'Before' and 'After' photos as illustrations.

IDENTIFY TRENDS - when should you be following fashion and when should you avoid it?
• In general, don’t follow trends too closely, they change with every season now
• More expensive items need to be timeless
If the makeover is for selling purposes...
• Remember potential buyers are comparing your property with others, and they like to see fashionable decor, so just update some accessories to fit with your scheme
• Check local Show Homes for styles and colours to use
• Check fashionable shops - eg. Next - and just add one or two pieces

Look at show homes for ideas

Before - this needed to be a guest room

After - so we made it timeless. Nothing can go out of fashion here.

Next - everyone's favourite - CLUTTER - when you're planning a makeover, deal with your clutter first!